The use of oriental and alternative medicine in the treatment of various ailments is becoming more common in the western world, as evidenced by the fact that many insurance companies now pay for chiropractic, acupuncture, biofeedback, and naturopathic services. It therefore makes sense that anxiety therapy can also be carried out with these forms of treatment. This is especially appealing to those of us who don’t want to take prescription medication for anxiety-related disorders, but would rather rely on alternative therapies that have been around for thousands of years.
A few years ago there was a study that was published in the Journal of Subluxation Research who described a nineteen-year-old woman who suffered from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) for two years before turning to her chiropractor for help. After just four months of chiropractic treatment, the young lady reported that she had only twenty percent of the symptoms she had previously lived with. Treatment in this case was to correct spinal curvatures resulting from multiple car accidents, and it was determined that the same spinal curvatures appeared to be the cause of the majority of the patient’s GAD. This is good news for those who have suffered physical trauma and who did not suffer from anxiety disorders prior to such trauma. These individuals may wish to consider chiropractic care as an alternative approach to traditional anxiety therapy and medication.
Acupuncture actually predates recorded history for how long the art has been practiced. Acupuncture includes many remedies specifically aimed at anxiety therapy, most of which are determined by the condition or appearance of one’s tongue. Acupuncture works to induce a centered state of mind. The process of inserting “dots” (small, almost imperceptible needles) in specific places in the body affects the nervous system and how it responds to external stimuli. Although it may sound a little scary to have needles inserted, it really is a relaxing and painless treatment that has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress.
Many people are now turning to naturopathy anxiety therapy with good results. Naturopathy is a practice that includes the use of herbal remedies, special diets, vitamins, herbal supplements, and even massage to treat all kinds of ailments. Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking that a Naturopathic Practitioner can be just anyone off the street, these folks must complete four years of college-level training before they can begin practice. The naturopathic approach to anxiety therapy can be a combination of certain herbal supplements, recommending eliminating certain foods and beverages from your diet or adding others, and sometimes even acupuncture and biofeedback.
Biofeedback is a way of collecting readings related to your body’s physiological state, such as: B. on your breathing rate, temperature, heart rhythm and skeletal muscle activity, using devices as simple as a thermometer or as sophisticated as one that measures your heart rate. You, the patient, play a role in using biofeedback in your anxiety therapy – you are expected to record and retain your readings, engage in prescribed exercises designed to relax you, and make lifestyle changes to correct it the areas that your biofeedback shows are increasing your anxiety.
Regardless of which method of anxiety therapy appeals to you, you must commit to following your doctor’s advice and persevering until you can see the benefits of reducing anxiety in your life.
Thanks to Anna Mathis
